FAMILIES fighting plans for a huge landfill site claim it will put their children at risk.

They have slammed plans for a 127-acre household rubbish dump on land between Crewe and the Haslington Bypass, saying it could lead to toxic fumes which would threaten a school.

The families are part of a protest group which claims extra traffic using the dump will clog up the bypass, forcing traffic on to country roads around Dingle Primary School.

Waste Recycling Group (WRG) is behind the &#xA3;25m scheme for the site in Maw Lane, between Clayhanger Hall Farm and the Haslington Bypass.

Parent Tracey Shayne is chairwoman of the Landfill Action Group, which has been protesting against the plan.

She said: 'I have got two children at Dingle Primary School, which is 500m from the proposed site.

'We are not just worried about the toxic fumes and the pests which could reach the school, but the traffic congestion. All these lorries will force other road users off the bypass and into the villages.

'When traffic is bad the road past the school is used at a major cut-through and we do not want our children exposed to the dangers of heavy traffic.'

However, Haslington villager Ian Lewsey has labelled the community body as 'misinformed'.

He is concerned the group has got its facts wrong, and said: 'I think the protesters are misguided and many of their objections do not stand up.

'They are concerned about the site being 500 yards from a primary school, but there is an A road which creates a natural barrier, and traffic should not be a problem because the highways authority have to make sure the roads are suitable before the application is passed.'

He added: 'The argument of smell is a bit thin when you consider that the present Maw Green site is only a very short distance away. I drive past it every day and I do not find myself gripping my nose.

'They would be better off sitting down and talking to the company which has put the application forward. I am quite confident all these issues could be resolved and a decent compensation deal could be arranged.'

Cheshire County Council will be responsible for making the decision on the scheme.